BRAD Friedel admits Gerard Houllier is under pressure from the Villa fans but feels the manager should be given more time before being judged.

It’s been an emotional rollercoaster ride for Houllier so far this month but he finally had something to smile about after the 2-1 win over Albion on Saturday.

Before the derby-day boost, Villa had crashed out of the Carling Cup to bitter rivals Blues, and extended their winless run from the previous month to five games.

Defeat against his old club at Anfield was followed by controversial pro-Liverpool comments and behaviour which led to criticism from the terraces.

But Friedel feels the club won’t see the full rewards of appointing Houllier until he has had time to build his own team.

“People are going to have to judge Gerard after he has had a couple of transfer windows and once we have a full complement of players in the squad,” the veteran goalkeeper said.

“I supported Liverpool as a boy but when I go there to play, I’m there to try and win a game of football. I did it with Blackburn and I do it at Villa.

“Some people have made a lot out of nothing. Gerard had some very good times there but, make no mistake, he wanted us to win that match, there was no way he wanted to lose.

“In the build-up we tried to go about getting a result but as it turned out it was one of our poorest performances of the season. That’s just the way it went.

“And because of the run we’re on, one thing led to another and he was under severe pressure with a lot of the fans.”

Some of that pressure was taken off Houllier’s shoulders after the win against the Baggies.

Friedel said that midweek meetings before the crunch derby game had taken place and admitted it was down to the players to get the results on the pitch.

But with the crippling injury crisis sweeping around Villa Park, the reported bust-up with stand-in skipper Richard Dunne, Stephen Ireland’s struggle to make an impact in the Midlands and a hectic pile-up of hard fixtures around the corner, these are still tough times for Houllier.

One thing is for sure, the much-needed win will give Villa confidence going into Saturday’s game at Wigan.

Friedel said he was looking for the team to use the result as a catalyst to string a successful run together.

And the American stopper distanced himself from rumours that Dunne’s clash with assistant boss Gary McAllister left the team shocked and astonished.

He said: “I never saw a proper bust-up at all, although I know he was left out of the team on Saturday.’’

About the changes in the dressing room he added: “We had a couple of meetings, some with the staff and some without the staff.

“It’s not time to do a lot of talking among people in a negative manner.

“It’s time for the players to go out on the field and get results.

“Thankfully we did on Saturday and hopefully can do it against Wigan.”